Helping your business grow, whether through optimising processes, upskilling your people or reducing costs through membership benefits – The Chamber connects you to funding, skills, new people, expert help and provides a platform where you and your business can flourish.

Whether you want to network, exhibit, learn more about what’s going on in your sector through industry forums – the Chamber helps you access hundreds of opportunities to meet and connect with businesses in the East Midlands every year.

To stay competitive means you need good people, with the right skills who feel valued and appreciated – the Chamber can provide you with expert analysis of your current situation, connect you with fully- or partially-subsidised training or even introduce you to new talent.

Reaching and influencing the right person, whether it’s your industry sector peers, your local MP, a specific Government department or simply people that need what you do – the Chamber is an authoritative body which has the status and mandate to ensure your voice is heard by the right people.

Whether you’re already exporting or planning your first overseas ventures, we can help you reach new markets to increase your potential profits and revenue. Through our extensive programme of trade missions, training courses, seminars and business clinics, we help you target the regions most likely to achieve results.

Contact us now to find out about the information, advice and support we offer to individuals and businesses.

The Chamber is the leading business organisation in the East Midlands. With a growing membership of more than 4,100+ businesses and 3,000 affiliates, it is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the country.

Futurologist Jason Bradbury will be our headline speaker at our Annual Dinner 2019, he will cover topics including the evolution of technology and it's implications for the modern world. 👩🏾‍💻 Book tickets here. 👉 bit.ly/2Egf7lppic.twitter.com/bvF7fttbyK

Business Network Magazine

The Chamber’s highly respected flagship publication is produced ten times a year and read by thousands of business people throughout the region – with news from members featuring prominently.

Thursday, 24 May 2018

Chamber endorses employment of ex-offenders

Reacting to suggestions today that companies should be encouraged to employ ex-offenders, Lucy Robinson, Director of Resources and responsible for HR at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), said: “It is important for society that those most remote from the workplace should be given all the help and encouragement possible to return to employment.

“Various Governments have looked at this issue and there have been a number of reports concluding that re-offending is reduced when prisoners find work or re-enter the system immediately after release.

“Jobcentre staff, for example, are now encouraged to process prisoners’ applications before they leave prison so that they don’t suffer a period without income when first released when the risk of re-offending is highest.

“A few years ago it was suggested that employers could be given financial incentives, such an employer’s National Insurance holiday, to encourage recruitment of ex-offenders. This is something the Chamber would support and we would urge Government to make this happen.

“Employing ex-offenders could also help reduce the skills shortage our members report to us in every Quarterly Economic Survey we carry out as offenders could be trained while in prison to have the skills on their release that employers need but struggle to find.

“It has been estimated that recruiting staff can cost about £2,000 per vacancy so if there is a ready-made and qualified supply of recruits available at a significantly reduced cost then that should also encourage firms to consider taking on ex-offenders.”

Strategic Partners

The Chamber is proud to work in partnership with carefully-selected and universally-recognised regional brands – many of which have a national and international presence - and the largest employers across the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Patrons

If you want to expand your reach in the East Midlands, then becoming a Chamber Patron is a shrewd move. It enables you to mix with the regions leading businesses at exclusive events, gain insight into what's going to happen and helps raise you profile on multiple levels.

Strategic Partners

The Chamber is proud to work in partnership with carefully-selected and universally-recognised regional brands – many of which have a national and international presence - and the largest employers across the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Patrons

If you want to expand your reach in the East Midlands, then becoming a Chamber Patron is a shrewd move. It enables you to mix with the regions leading businesses at exclusive events, gain insight into what's going to happen and helps raise you profile on multiple levels.